Eram Scientific Solutions (India)

A laboratory incubation study was carried out in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, for 90 days to assess the dynamics of micronutrient release from Thermochemical Organic Fertilizer (TOF) prepared using different reagent combinations. Two kg air dried 2 mm sieved soil was taken in 3 kg container pots. The study was laid in Completely Randomized Design with 6 treatments and 3 replications. Treatments were, T1: FYM @20 t ha-1; T2:TOF prepared from 5% acetic acid and 10 % Calcium hydroxide [TA5CH10]; T3: TOF prepared from 5% acetic acid and 15 % Calcium hydroxide [TA5CH15]; T4: TOF prepared from 10% acetic acid and 10 % Calcium hydroxide [TA10CH10]; T5:Patented TOF and T6: Control (Soil alone). Fe, Mn Zn and B exhibited a gradual and progressive release pattern throughout the incubation period. Whereas Copper (Cu) availability showed a decreasing trend from the 30th day onwards. Hence it can concluded that TOF significantly improved the micronutrient availability in soil compared to the FYM based and control treatment.

The handloom industry in India plays a significant role in the country's economy, providing employment to millions of people, especially in rural areas. This study examines the socio-economic status and prevalence of health problems among handloom workers in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. A sample of 100 handloom workers was selected through random sampling, and data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured interview schedule. The results reveal a varied economic profile, with 44% of respondents earning a monthly income between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 8,000, and 16% earning less than Rs. 5,000. The study also highlights a significant prevalence of lifestyle diseases, with 52% of respondents suffering from hypertension and 36% from Type 2 diabetes. Additionally, job-related health issues are widespread, with 68% experiencing back pain, 40% joint pain, and 28% muscle pain. The findings suggest a need for targeted health interventions, ergonomic improvements, and protective measures to mitigate occupational health hazards. The study provides valuable insights into the living standards, working conditions, and health outcomes of handloom workers, highlighting the need for policy interventions to improve their socio-economic status and overall well-being.

The Present case is of an 8-year-old boy with a 3 -grade education who has the problem of bedwetting at night diagnosed secondary enuresis. When the case history taking progressing, it get to know that he has incompatibility with his younger brother having 2 years of age. The main symptoms of enuresis include: repeated bed-wetting, wetting in to the clothes and beddings wetting at least twice a week for approximately three months. Emotional and psychological stress can cause a child to behave or act differently; which can lead to night-time wetting. The Boy satisfies these two conditions. So we focused on psychological aspect on enuresis and scheduled the treatment according to it. Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness with heightened suggestibility that allows for improved focus of attention and concentration. Counseling is a process between an individual and his counselor that helps the individual to overcome difficulties and change maladaptive or unhealthy emotional, behavioral or cognitive aspects. Hypnotherapy used for the client and counseling to parents.

Aims: To study the cultural, morphological and pathogenic variability existing among the pathogen isolates of Colletotrichum capsici, inciting anthracnose and fruit rot of chilli in Kerala. Study Design: Completely randomized design (CRD). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture (Kerala Agricultural University), Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2018-2019. Methodology: A survey was conducted in the five agro-climatic zones (ACZs) of Kerala viz., Northern zone, Central zone, Special problem zone, High range zone and Southern zone to assess the incidence and severity of anthracnose disease. The various symptoms in the surveyed locations were also noted. Pathogen isolates were grown in PDA medium in the laboratory and colony characters (colour and mycelial growth rate of pathogen colonies) were observed. Also, the morphological characters viz., mycelial width, shape and size of conidia, acervular diameter, number and size of setae, appressorial size were recorded. Results: Maximum anthracnose incidence of 90 per cent and severity of 52.60 per cent were noticed at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Pilicode (Northern zone). Characteristic leaf spot, fruit rot and die-back symptoms were observed in the survey locations. Pathogen colonies showed different shades of white, off-white to grey turning brown or black with regular or irregular margins and concentric rings of black acervuli in the potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. The diameter of growth of C. capsici isolates ranged from 7.20 to 8.60 cm at 7 days after incubation. All the C. capsici isolates initiated hyaline mycelium having a width of 1.73 - 2.36 µm and produced numerous sickle shaped conidia with a size range of 19.42 - 20.46 µm × 2.16 - 3.09 µm. Black coloured, circular or ellipsoidal acervuli (122.14 - 189.08 µm dia.) had 20 – 46 setae of length 74.13 to 107.30 µm. Also, brown or black appressoria of size 8.64 - 12.64 µm × 5.54 - 7.84 µm were formed in slide culture. Cc3 from College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara was obtained as the most virulent isolate producing a lesion size of 1.13 cm and PDI of 45.33 in the artificially inoculated chilli fruits (var. Vellayani Athulya) at 5 days after inoculation. Conclusion: All the nine C. capsici isolates exhibited variability in their cultural, morphological and pathogenic characteristics. Variability in phytopathogenic fungi helps in identifying novel and sustainable control methods to tackle the diseases incited by them. Understanding pathogen variability provides new insights for developing effective disease management methods. This will help in promoting sustainable agriculture and preventing severe crop losses.

Prolonged usage of traditional nanomaterials in the biological field has posed several short- and long-term toxicity issues. Over the past few years, smart nanomaterials (SNs) with controlled physical, chemical, and biological features have been synthesized in an effort to allay these challenges. The current study seeks to develop theranostic SNs based on iron oxide to enable simultaneous magnetic hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for chronic liver damage like liver fibrosis which is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. To accomplish this, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were prepared, coated with a biocompatible and naturally occurring polysaccharide, alginate. The resultant material, ASPIONs were evaluated in terms of physicochemical, magnetic and biological properties. A hydrodynamic diameter of 40 nm and a transverse proton relaxation rate of 117.84 mM−1 s−1 pronounces the use of ASPIONs as an efficient MRI contrast agent. In the presence of alternating current of 300 A, ASPIONs could elevate the temperature to 45 °C or more, with the possibility of hyperthermia based therapeutic approach. Magnetic therapeutic and imaging potential of ASPIONs were further evaluated respectively in vitro and in vivo in HepG2 carcinoma cells and animal models of liver fibrosis, respectively. Finally, to introduce dual imaging capability along with magnetic properties, ASPIONs were conjugated with near infrared (NIR) dye Atto 700 and evaluated its optical imaging efficiency in animal model of liver fibrosis. Histological analysis further confirmed the liver targeting efficacy of the developed SNs for Magnetic theranostics and optical imaging as well as proved its short-term safety, in vivo.